Wrotham Road Primary School
A happy and thriving multicultural school that has a love of learning and a belief that every individual matters.
New Reception Intake
Welcome to Wrotham Road Primary School
Applying for a Reception place for the Academic Year
2023-2024
Applications for starting school in September 2024
The Governing Body intends to admit 60 Reception pupils for classes at the start of each academic year.
The link below will give you guidance (provided by KCC) on applying to a school place:
Applications must be made online at Kent Primary School. Applications open in November (see below for key dates).
Key Dates
Friday 3rd November 2023 | Online application process opens. | All parents should go to www.kent.gov.uk/primaryadmissions to register and apply. If you are unable to register online please contact kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk who will be able to assist you with an alternative method of applying. |
Monday 15th January 2024 | Online application process closes for the main round. | Any amendments after this date must be emailed to kentonlineadmissions@kent.gov.uk |
Tuesday 16th April 2024
| National Offer Day | Offers of school places sent to parents via email after 4pm. |
By Tuesday 30th April 2024
| Deadline for parents to contact school to accept/refuse the place that has been offered. Parents should also fill out the waiting list form from the link in the offer email to be added to the waiting list of schools named on the original application. | |
By Tuesday 14th May 2024
| Appeals need to be lodged by this date to be heard before September | Appeals information can be found at www.kent.gov.uk/schoolappeals . You can only appeal for schools that were named on your RCAF. |
Thursday 23rd May 2024 | Offer day for the second round of applications (known as reallocation). After this date waiting lists will be maintained by the schools and they will send out offers for any places that may become available. Parents that have received an offer of a school place from KCC can approach schools directly for alternative places. | |
June to July 2024 | Admissions appeals held. | |
September 2024 | Pupils start school. | |
School Tours
Our school tours commence in November.
Tuesday 7th November 2023
Monday 13th November 2023
Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Wednesday 29th November 2023
Tuesday 5th December 2023
Monday 11th December 2023
Parents can book by calling the school office (01474 534540).
Our school environment with our school values displayed
Interim Acting Head of School: Mr Andrew Bennett
Our Vision
We are a community where everyone is encouraged to their very best and aim high – a place where new activities can be attempted without a fear of failure but where excitement and ambition is encouraged. We have a supportive environment in which every individual is able to fulfil his or her potential.
There is strong co-operation between all our age groups and cultures – children and adults, all making connections and contributions through a mutual respect for one another. We are a warm, friendly, ‘family’ where people are welcomed and accepted; a place that people want to come to every day.
We have created a vibrant environment and atmosphere that inspires and motivates all who are part of it. A community that values not only academic achievement but also passions for sport and the creative arts, where children can learn to express themselves both physically and creatively.
Our vision is that our children will ultimately become adults who have a desire for life-long learning who will make a positive contribution to a society that is free from prejudice. Many will (and do) continue to be part of this school community for years to come; whether as Governors, or ultimately as parents themselves. We even have ex-pupils seeking to work here as support staff and teachers!
Our pupils look back on their time at Wrotham Road Primary School with affection and smile as they remember what a great time they had and how much they gained from being with us.
Home Visits
As part of the transition from pre-school settings into school, our Reception teachers carry out home visits before the child starts September (this may happen at the end of July or the start of September). This ensures the school has all the information we need before your child starts school and gives you the opportunity to ask us any questions you might have. We collect personal, medical and social information at these visits so please have your child’s red medical book at hand for the visit. The visit will last around 30 minutes.
Transition into School
In order to ensure a smooth and successful transition from your child's pre-school setting to school, we are planning a series of transition days as well as a staggered start to school life. We strongly encourage all children to attend these sessions in order to make their start to school as easy and as happy as possible.
Following the home visits the children will start attending school as a phase start. This tried-and-tested method is extremely successful as it ensures the children are given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with all the new people and procedures at school at a fair and steady pace. After this period, the majority of children will be ready to join us full time. If a child isn't quite ready yet, that isn't a problem at all, we will work with the parents to discuss whether shorter days would help for a short period of time.
Snacks and Lunchtime Arrangements
The children are provided with a fruit or vegetable snack every day which can be enjoyed on our snack table. We encourage children to have their snack during the morning Exploring and Learning session and any fruit snacks left over from the morning can be enjoyed during the afternoon session.
Children are also entitled to free milk until they reach the age of 5. We will automatically sign your child up to receive the free milk up until they are 5. Close to their 5th birthday you will be contacted, by post, by Cool Milk to see if you would like your child to continue to enjoy milk at school or not. If you would there is a small cost paid on a termly basis direct to Cool Milk. Please inform your child’s class teacher if you do not wish for your child to be signed up for the free milk.
Lunchtime for Reception children is 11.30am each day and the children eat altogether in the school hall. Children in Reception and KS1 are entitled to a free school meal. Children collect their own lunch from the dining hatch and always have a choice of at least two meal options. Bread is available to accompany their meal each day as well as a choice of salad from the salad bar.
At Wrotham Road Primary School we use the Read Write Inc (RWI) programme to get children off to a flying start with their literacy. RWI is a method of learning centered around letter sounds and phonics, and we use it to aid children in their reading and writing. Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read more challenging material. A child who reads challenging material is a child who will learn. The more a child learns, the more he or she will want to find out. Using RWI, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows them to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.
When using RWI to read the children will:
- learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts
- learn to read words using Fred Talk
- read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out
- show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions.
When using RWI to write the children will:
- learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent 44 sounds.
- learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk
- write simple sentences
- compose stories based on picture strips
- compose a range of stories based on writing frames.
Here is a link to a video clip which shows the programme in action and explains everything, especially ‘Fred talk’!
Here is also a link for Read, Write Inc Parent Information: http://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/resources/
Parent Workshops
We believe the relationship between home and school is vital to your child’s development. Please keep an eye out for announcements on the school website for workshops on phonics, writing and maths.